Uber offers parents safe rides for their teens at a premium price

Uber’s safety policy states that users looking to sign up for an individual account must be aged 18 or over, but the new initiative enables teenagers aged between 13 and 17 to request a ride through their parent’s account, with £1.60 ($2, €1.80) added to the base fare.

The account creator receives a notification when their child has requested a ride and can track the journey in real time using the Uber app. A digital receipt that features trip information is sent to their account once a journey has ended.

To qualify for the scheme, which is being trialled in Seattle, Phoenix and Columbus, drivers are required to have completed a minimum number of trips and received consistently high ratings. According to an accompanying promotional video, the initiative is designed to free up time for parents and enable families to spend more quality time together.